Shockwave therapy for high-grade bone stress injuries in athletes

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This interventional study evaluates the safety and feasibility of using focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) to treat pelvic and lower limb stress injuries in collegiate and recreational athletes. Participants are randomized to receive up to four ESWT sessions or sham ESWT, with sessions spaced roughly every 5 days. The trial tracks safety, recovery metrics, and return-to-sport outcomes over about six months of follow-up, within an overall study window of up to eight months per participant and up to three years for all subjects. ESWT is delivered using a standardized device with escalating energy across treatment sessions, tailored to the injury site. UCLA serves as the IRB of record, with multiple sites including Stanford and Harvard-affiliated centers.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Male or female 18 - 50 years of age who engage in greater than or equal to 2.5 hours a week of physical activity (in any sport, with the primary aim to maintain health and fitness), at screening.
* Documentation of pelvic or lower extremity BSI diagnosis as evidenced by one or more clinical features consistent with the high-grade BSI by MRI grading (stress reactions of MRI grade 3 or stress fracture, grade 4 by Fredericson MRI Grading) with specific stress injury sites to be included: pelvis (including pubic ramus and sacrum), compression-sided femoral neck with fracture line less than 50% diameter if grade 4, femoral shaft, posteromedial tibia, calcaneus, metatarsal (2nd-4th, excluding proximal 2nd), and fibula.
* Written informed consent obtained from subject or subject's legal representative and ability for subject to comply with the requirements of the study.
* If on NSAIDs, willing to refrain from use during the study.
* If female of child-bearing potential, both of the following must be met at screening:
* Practices one of the following methods of contraception and continues through the duration of the study: abstinence, hormonal contraceptives, IUD, spermicide and barrier or implantable device, and
* Has a negative urine qualitative beta-HCG pregnancy test.
* If female and post-menopausal one of the following must be met at screening:
* Has had a complete hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or tubal ligation or otherwise be incapable of pregnancy, or
* Is postmenopausal for at least one year.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant, breastfeeding, plans to become pregnant during the study, or unwilling to practice birth control during participation in the study.
* Unsuitable candidate for the study, based on the opinion of the investigator (e.g. cognitive impairment), such that participation might create undue risk to the subject or interfere with the subject\'s ability to comply with the protocol requirements or complete the study.
* Subjects who, at entry, are known to have alternative treatment (e.g. surgery) planned within the next 8 weeks.
* History of severe osteoporosis (prior DXA scan with Z-score of -3.0 or T-score less than or equal to -2.5 and prior fracture history) or other underlying bone disease/disorder.
* Chronic rheumatologic condition and/or history of chronic oral steroid use.
* Type II diabetes, other chronic underlying disease.
* Morbid obesity (Body Mass Index greater than or equal to 35) at screening.
* Has clinically significant renal disease defined as having an estimated creatinine clearance of greater than or equal to 40mL/min at screening.
* History of osteomyelitis in the injured area on which the treatment is to be administered at screening.
* Has a current history of substance abuse (current is defined as within 120 days of screening).
* Has evidence of a prior fracture or BSI within the last 6 months in the same area as the current injury.
* Has active cellulitis or wound either at the injury site, or in the surrounding area at screening.
* Has an injury requiring surgical intervention at screening.
* Current/active DSM-V eating disorder diagnosis.
* History of vascular insufficiency.
* History of neurologic insufficiency.
* History of coagulopathy, including previous deep vein thrombosis within six months of Visit 1; and/or therapy with anticoagulation medication (e.g. warfarin).
* Radiation treatment within 120 days of Visit 1.
* Presence of malignant disease with or without metastases.
* Has a life expectancy of less than or equal to 2 years.
* History of sickle cell anemia.
* Has a known immunodeficiency disorder to include, but not be limited to: AIDS, HIV, etc.
* Has participated in another investigation within 30 days of Visit 1.
* Has previously received extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) with a SANUWAVE device.

Where it's running

• UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center
  Los Angeles, California, United States Recruiting
• Stanford Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Redwood City
  Redwood City, California, United States Recruiting
• Harvard - Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
  Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
• Hospital of Special Surgery (HSS) in NY
  New York, New York, United States Not yet recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Perion L Smith
• Email: PerionSmith@mednet.ucla.edu
• Phone: 310-592-0008

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.